March 24, 2008 - Matthew McCabe joins the Ambrose English Literature faculty this coming August. Matthew's doctoral dissertation-now nearly complete and headed soon to defence-treats the late-medieval poet John Gower, a contemporary and friend of Geoffrey Chaucer. The dissertation-undertaken at the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto-hints at Matthew's future research plans in late-medieval English poetry, medieval rhetoric and poetics, and medieval Christianity. Matthew's teaching areas range from Old English to the eighteenth century.

Matthew describes himself as a "product of a Christian faith-based undergraduate education (New St. Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho)," so he understands and embraces the Ambrose vision fully. In his teaching philosophy statement, Matthew notes the words of Jesus-"to whom much is given, much is required of him''-to express the depth of his vocational commitment and sense of accountability as an educator, one entrusted with influencing the "ways in which men and women undertake to use their gifts to the glory of God."

As a teacher and scholar Matt stands to make a significant contribution to Ambrose as a whole and more specifically to the English program. Watch for him at work next September in classes such as English 220a - Representative Literary Works, English 255 - Old English, and English 440 - Literature of the Later Middle Ages.

Matthew's strengths in English literature from the earlier historical periods make him an excellent fit in the Ambrose program. As Matthew joins the existing faculty-Dr. Tim Heath and Dr. Rita Dirks Heath-the English program, which has already distinguished itself in many ways, only grows deeper and stronger in its teaching and research excellence.

Contact: Dr. Tim Heath
Phone: 403.410.2000 ext. 5904
Email: THeath@ambrose.edu